IN BRIEF

THE European Commission’s committee on adaptations to technical progress has confimed that a proposed ban on animal testing for cosmetic products originally due to come into force in 1998 will be delayed until 2000 because “valid and recognised” alternative tests have not yet been developed. Animal rights campaigners were quick to condemn the decision. “It is a shame. The EU is blocking and sabotaging humane legislation,” said Michel Vandenbosch of Global Action in the Interest of Animals (GAIA).

European Voice

3/26/97, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 2:00 AM CET

Commission officials have raided the offices of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for evidence that it is using illegal predatory pricing to knock low-cost carrier easyJet off the Amsterdam-London route. EasyJet filed a complaint with the Commission two months ago afterits single 48-ecu fare to Schiphol Airport was met with a massive cut in KLM’s standard return fare. Since then, KLM has started to offer single trips at cheap fares. EasyJet claims KLM is operating the route at a loss, contrary to EU rules.

EU and US officials will meet next week for the first time since October to explore the possibility of striking an ‘open skies’ agreement between the two trading blocs. Both sides will show their hands on a series of secondary issues which will help decide whether they go on to broach the main issue of traffic rights to each others’ markets.

THE Commission this week cleared a Belgian scheme to cut social security charges on manual workers’ wages, after banning a previous scheme. Officials said that the new Maribelplan was acceptable because it involved general measuresto preserve blue-collarwork rather than sectoral schemes which distort fair competition.

FOREIGN ministers have reacted coolly to Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s comment that his country was “aiming to be recognised as a full European state” and was also “prepared” to join the European Union. Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek said it was “not exactly the timenow to be talking about membership”.